Method of operating camera including information supplement function and terminal supporting the same

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a camera including an information supplement function which supports to write a specific type of information desired by a user during a camera operation, and a terminal for supporting the same are provided. The method includes activating the camera module, and outputting to a display unit, an information editing area having an information supplement function together with at least one of a preview area for outputting the preview image, a photographed image area according to completion of photographing, and an on-photographing area according to a state of on-photographing of at least one of time points when a preview image of an object for photographing at least one of a picture and a moving picture by the activated camera module is output, when a photographing for one of a picture and a moving picture is complete, and when a moving picture is being photographed.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed on Nov. 15, 2011 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0118789, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera operation. More particularly,the present invention relates to a method of operating a cameraincluding an information supplement function which supports to write aspecific type of information desired by a user during a cameraoperation, and a terminal for supporting the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Although a portable terminal is small enough to be portable, theportable terminal supports a specific user function. For this reason,the portable terminal is in the spotlight in many fields of industry andliving. Consequently, in recent years, a portable terminal thatintegrally supports various user functions has been developed. Forexample, a camera module is mounted on a prior portable terminal, whichsupports functions of collecting an image of an object, storing acollected image, and searching for a stored image. Such a portableterminal may support functions of photographing a still picture and amoving picture.

However, the image collecting function supported by a prior portableterminal on which a camera module is mounted simply supports to writeimage information about an object and information about time when acorresponding image is photographed. Accordingly, a user may recall whenand where a picture had been photographed in a situation based on dateinformation in a procedure of searching for stored pictures. However, itis not enough to recall memories about a picture which is searched forbased only on the date information. In other words, the date informationmay be insufficient for a user to recall memories about a picture. Thus,there have been often caused errors in case of old pictures and aspecific object (e.g., nature such as a mountain, a river, and thelike), that a user could not exactly remember which situation andenvironment the corresponding pictures had been photographed in. Thus,there is a need for a technique of more clearly recognizing a collectedimage or more easily and conveniently performing a supplement ofadditional information about a collected image.

Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and a method for more easilyand quickly performing a writing of a type of information desired by auser while operating a camera module.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a method of operating a camera which can moreeasily and fast perform a writing of a type of information desired by auser while operating a camera module, and a terminal of supporting thesame.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method ofoperating a camera module is provided. The method includes activatingthe camera module, and outputting to a display unit, an informationediting area having an information supplement function together with atleast one of a preview area for outputting the preview image, aphotographed image area according to completion of photographing, and anon-photographing area according to a state of on-photographing of atleast one of time points when a preview image of an object forphotographing at least one of a picture and a moving picture by theactivated camera module is output, when a photographing for one of apicture and a moving picture is complete, and when a moving picture isbeing photographed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a terminalfor supporting an information supplement function while operating acamera module is provided. The terminal includes the camera module forsupporting to photograph a picture or a moving picture, a display unitfor outputting an information editing area having an informationsupplement function together with at least one of a preview area foroutputting the preview image, a photographed image area according tocompletion of photographing, and an on-photographing area according to astate of on-photographing of at least one of time points when a previewimage of an object for photographing at least one of a picture and amoving picture by the activated camera module is output, when aphotographing for one a picture and a moving picture is complete, andwhen a moving picture is being photographed, and a controller forsimultaneously outputting the information editing area together with atleast one of the preview area, the on-photographing area and thephotographed image area, and for supporting to write information in theinformation editing area.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa terminal 100 which includes an information supplement functionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controllerof a terminal such as, for example, the controller depicted in FIG. 1,in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of a picture interface ofsupporting an information supplement function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating another example of a picture interface ofsupporting an information supplement function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating still another example of a pictureinterface of supporting an information supplement function according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a terminal forsupporting an information supplement function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching for data towhich information is written according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa terminal which supports an information supplement function accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a terminal 100 may include a communication unit110, an input unit 120, a display unit 140, a memory 150, a cameramodule 170, and a controller 160. Further, the terminal 100 may includea sensor for detecting whether a state of the terminal 100 is in alandscape mode or a portrait mode. As an example, the sensor fordetecting whether a state of the terminal 100 is in a landscape mode ora portrait mode may be an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and thelike.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, theterminal 100 having the above configuration may support to output apicture corresponding to an information supplement function according toan input signal input from at least one of the input unit 120 and thedisplay unit 140 for further supporting an input function while thecamera module 170 is operated, together with a picture for operating thecamera module 170. Thus, when the terminal is in a state in which thecamera module 170 is activated, a user may more easily and quickly inputvarious information before and after photographing a specific image orduring a photographing of the specific image. According to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, when the terminal 100 supportsonly a function of operating the camera module 170, a configuration ofthe communication unit 110 may be omitted. According to other exemplaryembodiments, although the communication unit 110 is added to thefunction of operating the camera module 170, the camera module 170 maysupport a specific user function in connection with a data transmittingand receiving function based on the corresponding configuration of thecommunication unit 110.

When the terminal 100 is manufactured in a type of a terminal thatsupports a communication function, the communication unit 110 is anelement which may be added. Thus, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention when the terminal 100 does not support thecommunication function, the communication unit 110 may be omitted fromthe configuration of the terminal 100. Meanwhile, the communication unit110 may be provided in a type of mobile communication module forsupporting a communication function and more specifically, a mobilecommunication function of the terminal 100. The communication unit 110forms a communication channel with a mobile communication system, andsupports signal transmission and reception for performing the mobilecommunication of the terminal 100. For example, the communication unit110 may form at least one of a voice service channel, a video servicechannel and a data service channel, and may support transmission andreception of a specific signal according to a corresponding servicechannel. Specifically, according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention the communication unit 110 may support signal transmission andreception according to operation of the camera module 170. For example,the camera module 170 may be activated for operating the video servicechannel, and at this time, the communication unit 110 may perform afunction of transmitting images collected by the camera module 170 toanother terminal or the like. And, the communication unit 110 maysupport to transmit at least one of still pictures or moving picturescollected by the camera module 170 through the service channel toanother terminal. At this time, the communication unit 110 may transmitdata of at least one of still pictures and moving pictures in whichspecific information is written according to the information supplementfunction.

The input unit 120 is a structural element for generating various inputsignal necessary for operating the terminal 100. The input unit 120 maybe configured by various input means such as a keyboard, a keypad, a keybutton, and the like according to whether the input unit 120 iscompatible with the terminal 100. Further, when the display unit 140 isprovided as a touch screen, the input unit 120 is configured in a typeof touch map output on the touch screen. The input unit 120 may generatevarious input signals for supporting the information supplementfunction. For example, the input unit 120 may generate input signal foractivating the camera module 170, for calling the information supplementfunction in the state where the camera module 170 is activated, forwriting specific information on an information editor according to thecalling of the information supplement function, and for completing theinformation supplement function according to user control. Further, theinput unit 120 may generate input signals or the like for performing asearch, deleting, correction and transmission of an information writtenimage according to user control. Each of the generated input signals maybe transferred to the controller 160, changed into instruction words forsupporting a user function according to a corresponding input signal,and used.

The audio processor 130 may output various audio data set during aprocedure of operating the terminal 100, audio data by reproducing anaudio file stored in the memory 150, audio data received from anexternal and the like. Further, the audio processor 130 may support anaudio data collecting function. To do this, the audio processor 130 mayinclude a speaker SPY and a microphone MIC. Specifically, the audioprocessor 130 supports an output of an effect sound and a guide soundset in a procedure of operating a camera having the informationsupplement function. Further, the audio processor 130 supports an outputof an effect sound and a guide sound set in procedures of searching for,deleting, transmitting an image to which information is written, or thelike. Such an effect or guide sound outputting function may be omittedaccording to a setting by a user or intention of a designer.

The display unit 140 is configured to provide various picture interfacesnecessary for operating the terminal 100. For example, the display unit140 supports a standby picture, a menu picture, and the like.Specifically, the display unit 140 may output a picture according to anoperating of the camera module 170, a picture for supporting theinformation supplement function of pictures for operating the cameramodule 170, and a picture for performing at least one of functions ofsearching for, correcting, deleting and transmitting an image to whichinformation is written.

The display unit 140 may be provided in a type of touch screen whichsuperimposes a display panel and a touch panel. Images and textscorresponding to the above-mentioned various pictures may be output tothe display panel. The touch panel may be divided into a touch validarea and a touch invalid area according to characteristic of picturesoutput to the display panel, and transfer a touch event generated fromthe touch valid area to the controller 160. Specifically, the touchpanel may set a preview picture area for an object as the touch invalidarea according an operation of the camera module 170, and set aninformation editing area for supporting the information supplementfunction as the touch valid area. Thus, confirming a preview image foran object, a user may performs a touch operation for writing scheduleinformation in the information editing area. Pictures for operating thecamera module 170 and supporting the information supplement functionwhich are output through the display unit 140 will be described indetail with reference to drawings described below.

The memory 10 may store various basic operating systems, variousapplication programs and algorithms necessary for operating the terminal100. Specifically, the memory 150 may store a camera supporting program151 for operating the camera module 170 having the informationsupplement program 151, and a camera DB 153 including various imagescollected according to the operation of the camera supporting program151.

The camera supporting program 151 is a program for supporting anoperation of the camera module 170 including the information supplementfunction of the present invention. When an input signal for activatingthe camera module 170 by a user is generated, the camera supportingprogram 151 may be loaded into the controller 160 to support to performan image photographing operation of the information supplement function.To do this, the camera supporting program 151 may include a routine forproviding a preview image of an object, an information editor supportingroutine for supporting the information supplement function, a routinefor adjusting a preview image and an editor picture and for outputtingthe preview image on one display unit 140, and a routine for adjustingsizes of the information editor picture and the preview image accordingto an input signal. Further, the camera supporting program 151 mayinclude a routine for supporting to search for, correct and delete animage stored in the camera DB 153, a routine for distinguishing an imageof the stored image in which information is written from other imagesand providing it, a routine for providing written information and acollected image as an image at photographing it when selecting an imagein which the information is written, and a routine for providing one ofwritten information and collected images according to an input signal toa full screen. According to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the camera supporting program 151 may support a function ofcollecting an image in which information is written and a function ofsearching for, correcting, and deleting the image in which theinformation is written based on each routine described above.

The camera DB 153 is configured to store various images collectedaccording to an operation of the camera module 170. This camera DB 153may store images having at least one of types of still picture andmoving picture. Further, the camera DB 153 may store at least one oftypes of still picture and moving picture to which information isindividually written. According to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the information editor for supporting the informationsupplement function may be output according to a user call before thecamera module 170 photographs a still picture or a moving picture.Further, the information editor may be output after the camera module170 photographs a still picture or a moving picture and before it storesthe photographed them. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, if the camera module 170 is being used to photographa moving picture, then the information editor may be output during thephotographing of the moving picture.

Thus, although the camera DB 153 may store a still picture in a complextype of information and the still picture, a moving picture may bestored together with information about a time when written informationis output. For example, when before photographing a picture and a movingpicture or after the photographing, the picture and the moving pictureare stored in the camera DB 153, a picture in which information iswritten before outputting a picture in searching for a correspondingpicture and moving picture and reproducing a moving picture, or afterthe outputting and reproducing. When a moving picture to whichinformation is written during photographing the moving picture is storedin the camera DB 153, the picture to which the information is writtenmay be output at a time point when the information is written to thepicture, while reproducing the moving picture in searching for themoving picture. At this time, the information written picture may beoutput in a predetermined area through a moving picture reproducingpicture and a picture division or in a full screen. Further, theinformation written picture may be output and overlaid in apredetermined area of at least one side of a moving picture reproducingpicture which is assigned.

To support a function of writing information to a picture according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller 160 isconfigured to control various signal flow, an information collection andoutput. The controller 160 supports an image collecting function and aninformation edit function for supporting to write information to apicture, and the controller 160 supports to complexly operate the twofunctions. To do this, the controller 160 may include the configurationdepicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating in detail a configuration of acontroller such as, for example, the controller 160 depicted in FIG. 1,in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 160 may include an image collectionsupporting unit 161, an information editor supporting unit 163, and adata managing unit 165.

The image collection supporting unit 161 is configured to support animage collection according to an operation of the camera module 170.When an input signal for activating the camera module 170 is generatedfrom the input unit 120 and the display unit 140 for supporting thetouch function, the image collection supporting unit 161 may supply anelectric power to the camera module 170 and support to perform aninitiating procedure for operating the camera module 170. When theinitiation of the camera module 170 is completed, the image collectionsupporting unit 161 may support to output a preview image of an objectincident through a lens. And, when the information supplement functionis called, the image collection supporting unit 161 may transfer thepreview image to the information editor supporting unit 163. To do this,the image collection supporting unit 161 may provide a menu for callingthe information supplement function. According to exemplary embodimentsof the present invention, when the information supplement function isprovided as a default function, the menu may be omitted.

The information editor supporting unit 163 is configured to support tooutput the information editor to the display unit 140 according to theactivating of the image collection supporting unit 161 and the call ofthe information supplement function. That is, the information editorsupporting unit 163 may support to output the information editor to thedisplay unit 140 according to a request of the image collectionsupporting unit 161. At this time, the information editor supportingunit 163 may negotiate with the image collection supporting unit 161about the screen dividing procedure or the predetermined area assigningprocedure for the overlaying of the display unit 140, and output theinformation editor on the divided and assigned screen. Further, whilethe information editor is output to the display unit 140, theinformation collection supporting unit 161 may negotiate with theinformation editor supporting unit 163 about the screen division and thearea assignment, and support to output a preview image to the dividedscreen or the assigned area. When an input signal is generated to outputthe information editor in the full-screen type from the input unit 120and the display unit 140 of the touch function, the information editorsupporting unit 163 may support to output a picture corresponding to theinformation editor to the whole of the display unit 140. As an example,the information editor described above may basically support a drawingfunction. That is, the information editor may support a preceding outputaccording to a touch event generated on the screen. And, afterperforming character recognition with respect to a line output in aspecific type, the information editor may support a character outputcorresponding to the corresponding line.

Further, the information editor supporting unit 163 may support tooutput the information editor of a type of a character editor includinga key map for a character editing according to a default or userrequest. Thus, the user may perform a specific character input operatingthe character editor. In addition, the information editor supportingunit 163 may collect time information about a time point wheninformation has been edited using a counter built in the terminal 100,and control to automatically write the corresponding time information toa corresponding information written picture. The information editingpicture described above will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 3 to 5.

The data managing unit 165 is configured to integrally manageinformation input from the image collection supporting unit 161 and theinformation editing supporting unit 163. That is, when an image istransferred from the image collection supporting unit 161 to the datamanaging unit 165, the data managing unit 165 controls such that thecorresponding image is stored in the camera DB 153. Further, when animage is transferred from the image collection supporting unit 161 andwritten information is transferred from the information editingsupporting unit 163 to the data managing unit 165, after integrating thecorresponding information and the image into one file, the data managingunit 165 may support to store the file in the camera DB 153. In theprocedure of integrating the information and the image, the datamanaging unit 165 may generate another file according to a time point ofcollecting the information and a type of the image. For example, whenthe transferred image is a moving picture, the data managing unit 165may control such that the transferred information which is matched ontoa time point of the moving picture such as a time point just beforereproducing the moving picture, a time point just before completing thereproduction of the moving picture, a time point while the movingpicture is reproduced and the like, is stored.

Meanwhile, for easily searching for information and a file integratedwith an image, the data managing unit 165 may support to assign filenames for supporting an information search and for supporting an imagesearch. Thus, when a user searches for a file stored in the camera DB153 in future, searching for a file to which information is written maybe supported to be performed in a manner of searching for information orsearching for an image. For assigning a file name to support theinformation search, when text information is included in thecorresponding information, the data managing unit 165 may extract apiece of information from the text information and control such that theextracted piece of information is automatically assigned as a file name.For assigning a file name for an image search support, the data managingunit 165 may perform an output of a pop-up window which inquires whethera file name is inputted in storing an image, and when there is no input,assign the same file name as that of the image search support. Also, thedata managing unit 165 may control such that schedule information suchas time information which is defined as a default is automaticallywritten therein as a file name.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of a camera operating pictureincluding an information supplement function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, when after activating the terminal 100, a usergenerates an input signal for operating the camera module 170 and at thesame time, calls the information supplement function, a picture may beoutput to the display unit 140, as shown. In a state of setting theterminal 100 into a landscape mode, a preview area 41 disposed at, forexample, the left side as an area in which a preview image collectedthrough the lens of the camera module 170 may be output. And, theinformation editing area 43 may be an area in which the informationeditor may be output by calling the information supplement function ofthe user and providing the default of the information supplementfunction of the terminal 100. In FIG. 3, the information editing pictureaccording to a supporting of the drawing function of the functions ofthe information editor is shown in the information editing area 43.Thus, the user may draw a character, an image or the like using a touchfunction tool such as a stylus pen, a finger and the like on theinformation editing area 43. According to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, when lines corresponding to a specific character areinput in the information editing picture of supporting a drawingfunction, the terminal 100 may scan corresponding lines, map the linesonto a character corresponding to the lines, and output the lines intothe information editing area 43 as a preset specific character. To dothis, the terminal 100 may further comprise a recognizing algorithm forrecognizing a line as a character. In comparison of types of linesoutput to the information editing area 43 and characters previouslydefined, the recognizing algorithm may be an algorithm of mapping with acharacter corresponding to the number of edges, a bending angle, acontinuous curvature and the like in a predetermined rate range.

Meanwhile, when specific information is input in the information editingarea 43 and an image photographing area is generated, the terminal 100may selectively control an image collecting type according to whetherinformation which is written in the information editing area 43 exists.That is, if although the information editing area 43 is output, an imagephotographing signal is generated in a state in which specificinformation is not written, although the information editing area 43 isoutput, the terminal 100 may control such that the image output into thepreview area 41 is only collected. This function may be equally appliedto the information editing area output together with a photographedimage area and an on-photographing area. That is, the terminal 100 maydetermine whether the information written in the information editingarea at an image storing time point, when there is no writteninformation, the terminal 100 may control such that images in thepreview area, only the on-photographing area and the photographed imagearea is stored.

And, when an image photographing signal is generated in the state inwhich specific information is written in the information editing area43, the terminal 100 may control such that images in the preview area 41are collected and at the same time, the information output into theinformation editing area 43 is stored. At this time, the terminal 100may store information of the preview area 41 and the information editingarea 43 in a type that they are output on one screen. For example, theterminal 100 may capture a picture of the display unit 140 to which animage in the preview area 41 and information in the information editingarea 43 are output and store it in an image type. Further, the terminal100 may store the image in the preview area 41 and the information inthe information editing area 43 to distinguish them from each other.

Here, when the drawing function is performed as mentioned above, theinformation editing area 43 may output a line or an image according to atouch event of a user. In this case, the terminal 100 may storeinformation in the information editing area 43 in an image type.Further, when a character input function is performed, a key map may beoutput and a specific character or numeral may be output into theinformation editing area 43. In this case, the terminal may store theinformation output into the information editing area 43 as textinformation.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating another example of a camera operatingpicture including an information supplement function according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, if the terminal 100 is disposed in a portrait mode,the photographed image area 42 is output at, for example, an upperportion of the screen and the information editing area 43 is output at,for example, a low portion of the screen. To do this, while operatingthe camera module 170, the terminal 100 may determine whether an inputsignal for photographing an object is generated. And, when the inputsignal for photographing the object is generated, the terminal 100 maysupport to photograph an image output on a preview screen and output itto the display unit 140. Then, when an input signal for calling theinformation supplement function or the information supplement functionis set as a default function, as shown, the terminal 100 may support todispose and output the photographed image area 42 and the informationediting area 43 at an upper portion and a low portion thereof,respectively. Here, the photographed image area 42 may be disposed at anupper end of the information editing area 43. And, the informationediting area 43 may include a key map area for supporting a characterinput function and an output area to which characters selected in thekey map area are output is disposed at an upper end portion of the keymap area. Thus, according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the terminal 100 may support to operate the informationsupplement function after photographing an object to enable, forexample, users to write specific information to it.

Meanwhile, although in description of FIGS. 3 and 4 above, it has beendescribed that a display area of the preview area 41 and thephotographed image area 42 relatively larger than that of theinformation editing area 43, exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to such configurations. That is, the previewarea 41 and the photographed image area 42, and the information editingarea 43 may operatively cut the display unit 140 in half and be set tohave the same area. Further, as another example, the preview area 41 andthe photographed image area 42 may be set to be relatively less than theinformation editing area 43.

Further, although in FIGS. 3 and 4, the preview area 41 and thephotographed image area 42 have been described in a landscape mode and aportrait mode, respectively, exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention are not so limited. That is, when the mode of the terminal 100is changed from landscape mode to the portrait mode in FIG. 3, similarto the arrangement in FIG. 4, the preview are 41 and the informationediting area 43 may be respectively disposed at an upper end portion anda low end portion. Further, when the mode of the terminal 100 is changedfrom the portrait mode to the landscape mode in FIG. 4, the arrangementof the photographed image area 42 and the information editing area 43may be changed into a type of arrangement such that the areas arerespectively disposed at the left and right sides of the display unit140.

In addition, an input scheme of the information editing area 43 may bechanged according to the landscape and portrait modes. That is, theinformation editing area 43 may perform drawing function support in thelandscape mode, and in the portrait mode, the editing area 43 providecharacter input and output functions based on the key map. As anexample, the information editing area 43 may be set on the contrary tothis according a user setting or the like. That is, the informationediting area 43 may perform the drawing function support in the portraitmode and in the landscape mode, perform the character input and outputfunction based on the key map. Further, when the mode of the informationediting area 43 is changed from the landscape mode to the portrait modeor from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, the informationsupplement function may be switched from the drawing function to thecharacter input and output function based on the key map or from thecharacter input and output function based on the key map to the drawingfunction.

Further, in a state in which display unit 140 displays the preview area41 and the information editing area 43, or displays the photographedimage area 42 and the information editing area 43, a specific area maybe removed from the display unit 140 according to a user request and anon-removed area may be output in a full screen type to the display unit140.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating still another example of a cameraoperating picture including an information supplement function accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the terminal 100 may activate the camera module 170according to a user request and perform an image photographing.Specifically, the terminal 100 may perform a photographing of a movingpicture based on the camera module 170. While photographing a movingpicture, the terminal 100 may support to output the on-photographingarea 51 which is used for photographing the moving picture to thedisplay unit 140 as a picture 501. At this time, the terminal 100 mayoutput a menu or a function button 55 for calling the informationsupplement function to one side of the screen. In the depicted drawing,an outputting of a corresponding function button 55 is shown as oneexample. However, according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the function button 55 may be removed, and may be provided ina type of a hot key for calling the information supplement function or aspecific menu.

Meanwhile, when the terminal is in a state in which the moving picturephotographing area 51 is output to the display unit 140, a usergenerates a call of the information supplement function for example, aselection of the function button or an input signal corresponding to it,as in the picture 503, the terminal 100 may resize the moving picturephotographing area 51 to reduce its size to a predetermined size andsupport to output the information area 53 to the reduced area. The usermay write specific information in the information editing area 53. Forexample, the user may perform a touch operation on the informationediting area 53 set by supporting the drawing function to write aspecific character in it. As another example, the user may inputinformation to the information editing area 53 via the input unit 120.

Meanwhile, when the information editing area 53 is output, the terminal100 may support to automatically collect current time information andoutput the collected current time information to a time information area57 provided at one side of the screen. Time information from output ofthe information editing area 53 until completion of the informationediting area 53 may be recorded in the time information area 57. In theprocedure of writing information in the information editing area 53 andstoring it, the recorded time information may be stored together withit. When reproducing a corresponding image, the time information mayused to output the information at the recorded time.

Meanwhile, in description of FIG. 5, it has been described that theinformation supplement function is called during a photographing of amoving picture, the present invention is not limited to it. That is, theterminal 100 of the present invention may output a moving picturepreview area and the information editing area 53 before photographing amoving picture, such that the terminal 100 supports the informationsupplement function before photographing the moving picture. Further,after photographing a moving picture, the terminal 100 of the presentinvention may output the photographed image area and the informationediting area 53 corresponding to a specific frame area of the movingpicture, such that the terminal 100 supports the information supplementfunction after completing the photographing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a camera whichsupports an information supplement function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a method of operating a camera of the presentinvention, the controller 160 of the terminal 100 controls such that thesupplied electric power is provided to each element at step 601. Andwhen an input signal is generated, the terminal 160 may determinewhether the input signal corresponds to a signal for activating thecamera module 170 at step 603. When it is determined that the inputsignal does not correspond to a signal for activating the camera module170, the controller 160 may support to perform a function, such as afile reproducing function, a web access function, a call function andthe like, according to the input signal at step 605.

Meanwhile, when the input signal corresponds to a signal for activatingthe camera module 170, the controller 160 checks a mode input signal atstep 607. When the mode of the terminal is determined to be a picturephotographing mode for photographing a still image, the controller 160may determine whether the information editing function such as thedrawing function is called at step 609. When an input signal for callingthe drawing function is generated at step 609, the controller 160supports to perform the drawing function at step 611. That is, thecontroller 160 may support to input and output a line or an imageaccording to a touch event generated in the display unit 140 ofsupporting a touch function. Meanwhile, when an input signal for callingthe drawing function at step 609 does not exist or is not supported as adefault, the controller may skip step 611. Then, the controller 160 maydetermine whether an input signal for photographing an image isgenerated at step 613. When the photographing is completed, thecontroller 160 determines whether an input signal corresponding to asignal for calling the drawing function is generated or a default is setat step 615. When the input signal corresponding to a signal for callingthe drawing function is generated or the default is set, the controller160 may support to the drawing function at step 617. When the calling ofthe drawing function does not occur at step 615, the controller 160 mayskip step 617.

Then, the controller 160 determines whether an input signalcorresponding to a signal for storing an image to which an image orinformation is written is generated at step 619. When the input signalfor storing an image is generated at this step, a storing procedure maybe performed at step 621. And, when the input signal for individuallystoring an image is not generated, the process may skip step 621 and goto step 623. The terminal 100 may determine whether an input signalcorresponding to a signal for terminating a camera function is generatedat step 623. Here, when the input signal for individually terminating acamera function is not generated, the process may go to step 607.

Meanwhile, when the moving picture photographing function is selected asa mode selecting signal, the controller 160 may prepare an operation ofthe camera module 170 to photograph a moving picture at step 607. And,when the moving picture photographing preparation is completed, thecontroller 160 may determine whether an event for calling the drawingfunction is generated before the moving picture photographing at step610. When the event for calling the drawing function is generated atstep 610, the drawing procedure may be performed at step 612. And, whenthe event for calling the drawing function is not generated at step 610,the controller 160 may skip step 612 and go to step 614.

The controller 160 determines whether an input signal corresponding to asignal for starting photographing a moving picture is input at step 614,and when the input signal corresponding to a signal for starting tophotograph a moving picture is generated, the controller 160 determineswhether an event for calling the drawing function is generated at step616. When the event for calling the drawing function is generated atstep 616, the information editing function is supported according to thecalling of the drawing function at step 618. Meanwhile, after stating tophotograph the moving picture, the controller 160 skips steps 616 and618, and the controller 160 may determine whether an input signalcorresponding to a signal for terminating the photographing of themoving picture is generated at step 620. When the event for calling thedrawing function is not generated at step 616, the controller 160 skipsstep 618 and the process goes to step 620.

When the input signal for terminating the moving picture photographingis generated at step 620, the controller 160 determines whether an inputsignal corresponding to a signal for storing is generated at step 622.And, when the input signal corresponding to a signal for storing isgenerated, the controller 160 may control such that the photographedmoving picture or a moving picture to which information is written iscontrolled at step 624. Then, the controller 160 may go to step 623.

In the description above, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionhas been described with reference to the drawing function as theinformation editing function. However, the method for operating a cameraaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is notlimited to the example in which the information editing functioncorresponds to the drawing function. That is, as mentioned above, thedrawing function may be substituted or switched with or to the characterinput and output function based on the key map according to a userselection, a terminal 100 disposed state and a default setting.

For example, the terminal 100 of the present invention may identify astate of the terminal 100, and when the mode of the terminal 100 is thelandscape mode, support to output the information editing area of thedrawing function supporting or the character input and output functionbased on the key map. Further, when the mode of the terminal 100 is theportrait mode, the terminal 100 according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention may support to output the information editing areaof the information editing support of the character input and outputfunction based on the key map or the drawing function support.

Further, the terminal 100 according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention may determine whether the state of the terminal 100 ischanged, and the terminal 100 may control the information editing areato be changed from the drawing function support to the key map-basedcharacter input and output function support when the mode of theterminal is changed from the landscape mode to the portrait mode, or theterminal 100 may control the information editing area to be changed fromthe drawing function support to the key map-based character input andoutput function support when the mode of the terminal is changed fromthe portrait mode to the landscape mode. Further, the terminal 100 maycontrol the information editing area to be changed from the keymap-based character input and output function support to the drawingfunction support when the mode of the terminal is changed from thelandscape mode to the portrait mode, or the terminal 100 may control theinformation editing area to be changed from the key map-based characterinput and output function support to the drawing function support whenthe mode of the terminal is changed from the portrait mode to thelandscape mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching for an image towhich information is written according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 160 of the terminal 100 may generateelectric power necessary for operating each element using an electricpower supplied from an electric power source and provide the electricpower to each element at step 701.

Then, the controller 160 may determine whether an input signalcorresponding to a signal for searching camera DB 153 is generated atstep 703. When the input signal does not correspond to a signal forsearching the camera DB 153, the method of searching for an imageproceeds to step 705 at which the controller 160 may support to performa function according to corresponding input signal such as a callfunction, a file reproducing function, a web access function, abroadcasting receiving function, and the like, according to whether theterminal supports such a function.

Meanwhile, when an input signal corresponding to a signal for searchingthe camera DB 153 is generated at step 703, the method of searching foran image proceeds to step 707 at which the controller 160 may determinewhether the corresponding signal is an input signal for searching fordrawing-connected data. Here, the drawing-connected data may meanspecific data to which drawing information of data which is written intoa specific image is written. As illustrated in FIG. 6, because aninformation editor according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention may support the drawing function, image data into whichdrawing information is written may be stored in the camera DB 153.According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, data storedin the camera DB 153 is not limited to the drawing-connected data. Thatis, in an image into which information of the present invention iswritten, the information may include text information. To do this, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the character editor of the character input andoutput function including the key map may be provided as an informationeditor.

Meanwhile, at step 707, when the input signal corresponds to a signalfor searching for a picture or a moving picture to which normal data inwhich specific information is not written, the controller 160 maysupport to output a picture or a moving picture according to thecorresponding input signal at step 709.

And, at step 707, when the input signal corresponds to a signal forsearching for connected data, the controller 160 may support to outputthe drawing-connected data to the display unit 140 at step 711. At thistime, when the drawing-connected data is output, the controller 160 maysupport various types of outputs according to data characteristic. Forexample, the controller 160 may support to simultaneously output apicture and information on one screen of the display unit 140 whensearching for the picture into which the information is written. To dothis, the controller 160 may divide the screen of the display unit 140or assign a specific area, and support to distinguish the informationand the picture image from each other and output the information and thepicture image to the divided screen or the distinguished screenaccording to the assignment. Further, when after photographing andbefore storing a picture, information is written into the picture,although the controller 160 outputs the picture image and theinformation as a full screen image, the controller 160 may output theinformation and the picture image at intervals according to a toggletype to the display unit 140.

Meanwhile, when an input signal corresponding to a signal for searchingfor data into which information is written while photographing a movingpicture, the controller 160 collects time information about the writteninformation while photographing the moving picture. And, the controllermay support to output corresponding information corresponding to thecollected time information while reproducing the moving picture. Thus,searching for a specific moving picture when searching for data, a usermay more thoroughly identify which information is written at a certaintime point. And, a user may more easily perform a data searchingaccording thereto.

At step 713, the terminal queries the user whether the method ofsearching for an image should be terminated. If the user indicates thatthe method should be terminated, then the method ends. Otherwise, if theuser indicates that the method should not be terminated, then the methodreturns to step 703.

As described above, a method of operating a camera including aninformation supplement function and a terminal of supporting the samesupport to write specific information which a user desires at least onetime point of before, during and after an image photographing, whenperforming various types of information edit while photographing apicture or a moving picture. Thus, although exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention not only store simply a image, but also supplementsinformation which a user desires to add while operating a camera,exemplary embodiments of the present invention may support to write theinformation in more various and easy scheme.

As described above, according to a method of operating a cameraincluding an information supplement function and a terminal ofsupporting the same according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention allows auser to more easily and quickly perform a writing of a type ofinformation desired by a user while operating a camera. Further,exemplary embodiments of the present invention may perform more easilyand quickly identifying of information which is written during aprocedure of searching an information written image.

While of the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a camera module in aterminal, the method comprising: activating the camera module;outputting, on a display unit, an information editing area having aninformation supplement function together with an image area, the imagearea including at least one of a preview area for outputting a previewimage, a photographed image area according to completion ofphotographing, and an on-photographing area according to a state ofon-photographing during operation of the camera module; detecting aninput for information in the information editing area; storing data intowhich information inputted in the information editing area and at leastone of a still image and a moving image displayed on the image area areintegrated; and displaying, if an input for searching an output data ofthe stored data is detected, an output item corresponding to the outputdata.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting to the displayunit comprises: dividing a screen of the display unit; outputting one ofthe preview area, the photographed image area, and the on-photographingarea to one division of the screen; and outputting the informationediting area to another division of the screen.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the outputting to the display unit comprises: outputting atleast one of the preview area, the photographed image area, and theon-photographing area; assigning a predetermined area to each of thepreview area, the photographed image area, and the on-photographingarea; and outputting the information editing area to the assigned areassuch that the assigned areas are overlaid with the information editingarea.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of theinformation editing area to the display unit comprises: outputting theinformation editing area for supporting a drawing function by which aline or an image is able to be written according to a touch event. 5.The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining a state of theterminal; when the state of the terminal is in a landscape mode,outputting the information editing area for supporting the drawingfunction.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining achange in a state of the terminal; and performing one of: when the stateof the terminal is changed from a landscape mode to a portrait mode,changing the information editing area for supporting the drawingfunction into the information editing area for supporting a characterinput and output function based on a key map; when the state of theterminal is changed from the portrait mode to the landscape mode,changing the information editing area for supporting the drawingfunction into the information editing area for supporting the characterinput and output function based on the key map; when the state of theterminal is changed from a landscape mode to a portrait mode, changingfrom the information editing area for supporting the character input andoutput function based on the key map into the information editing areafor supporting the drawing function; and when the state of the terminalis changed from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, changing fromthe information editing area for supporting the character input andoutput function based on the key map into the information editing areafor supporting the drawing function.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe storing of the data into which information written in theinformation editing area and at least one of the picture and the movingpicture are integrated comprises: storing time information according towriting of information during one of before photographing a movingpicture, when photographing for the moving picture is completed, andwhen the moving picture is being photographed.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: adjusting an output time point of the writteninformation based on time information according to the searching requestwhile the moving picture is reproduced.
 9. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining whether the information editing areaincludes written information; and storing, when the information editingarea does not include written information, only an area afterphotographing completion, an on-photographing area, and one of a pictureand a moving picture in a preview area.
 10. A terminal for supporting aninformation supplement function while operating a camera module, theterminal comprising: the camera module configured to photograph at leastone of a still image and a moving image; a display unit configured tooutput an information editing area having an information supplementfunction together with an image area, the image area including at leastone of a preview area for outputting the preview image, a photographedimage area according to completion of photographing an on-photographingarea according to a state of on-photographing of at least one of timepoints when a preview image of an object for photographing at least oneof a picture and a moving picture by the activated camera module isoutput, when photographing for at least one of a picture and a movingpicture is complete, and when a moving picture is being photographed; amemory; and a controller configured to: simultaneously output theinformation editing area together with at least one of the preview area,the on-photographing area and the photographed image area; detect aninput for information in the information editing area, control thememory to store data into which information inputted in the informationediting area and at least one of a still image and a moving imagedisplayed on the image area are integrated, and if an input forsearching an output data of the stored data is detected, display anoutput item corresponding to the output data.
 11. The terminal of claim10, wherein the controller is configured to control the terminal suchthat a screen of the display unit is divided, one of the preview area,the photographed image area, and the on-photographing area is output toone division of the screen, and wherein the information editing area isoutput to another division of the screen.
 12. The terminal of claim 10,wherein the information editing area comprises one of an informationediting area for supporting a drawing function by which at least one ofa line and an image is able to be written according to a touch event.13. The terminal of claim 12, further comprising: a sensor configured todetermine whether the terminal is configured in a landscape mode or aportrait mode.
 14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the terminal such that when a state of theterminal is in the landscape mode, the information editing area forsupporting the drawing function is output.
 15. The terminal of claim 10,wherein the controller is configured to: control the terminal such thatthe terminal stores time information according to writing of informationduring at least one of before photographing a moving picture, when aphotographing for a moving picture is completed, and when a movingpicture is being photographed, wherein when a specific moving picture inwhich information is written according to generation of an input signalfor searching for the stored data, control the terminal such that thespecific moving picture is reproduced, and wherein while the specificmoving picture is reproduced, adjust an output time point of the writteninformation based on the time information.
 16. The terminal of claim 10,wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether theinformation editing area includes written information, and when theterminal is storing an image collected by the camera module, theinformation editing area is for supporting a drawing function, andcontrol the terminal such that information in the information editingarea is stored in an image type together with one of the picture and themoving picture.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting to thedisplay unit comprises: outputting to the display unit, the informationediting area together with at least one of the preview area, thephotographed image area, and the on-photographing area of at least oneof time points when a preview image of an object for photographing atleast one of a picture and a moving picture by the activated cameramodule is output, when a photographing for one of a picture and a movingpicture is complete, and when a moving picture is being photographed.18. The method of claim 4, wherein the outputting of the informationediting area to the display unit further comprises: outputting theinformation editing area for supporting a character input and outputfunction based on a key map which outputs a character corresponding to akey selected based on the key map.